The Indianapolis Colts defensive position was ranked because the Eleventh-best unit within the NFL by Professional Soccer Focus.
Putting groups into totally different tiers, the Colts discovered themselves in Tier 2, which was labeled “Robust with a weak level or two” by PFF. In complete, there have been six groups in that tier
Indianapolis goes to depend on its entrance 4 to generate stress in Gus Bradley’s new scheme, as no protection blitzed lower than Bradley’s Chargers when he was defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 (16%), and the identical was true for the Las Vegas Raiders underneath Bradley final season (11%).
The Colts have the gamers up entrance to get stress with 4 rushers, particularly after Yannick Ngakoue’s reunion with Bradley in Indianapolis. DeForest Buckner ranks fourth amongst inside defensive linemen in mixed sacks and quarterback hits (45) since becoming a member of the Colts in 2020, and 2021 first-round decide Kwity Paye is on the lookout for a breakout second season as the favourite for the LEO function in Bradley’s protection.
It’s extra probably that Ngakoue will play extra of the LEO function quite than Paye, who is predicted to work extra because the left finish/huge finish in Bradley’s aggressive entrance.
Whereas we shouldn’t anticipate a excessive blitzing price from the Colts underneath Bradley’s command, we are able to anticipate them to get after the quarterback. The Raiders had the fourth-most quarterback hits in the course of the 2021 season regardless of solely having two extra sacks than the Colts.
A lot of the success of the go rush will come from the event of Paye and fellow second-year defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo. Having Buckner and Ngakoue will assist in an effective way, however the two younger go rushers could make this unit particular.
Like Colts Wire on Fb
Observe Colts Wire on Twitter
Observe Kevin on Twitter (@KevinHickey11)